Marathon Training Week 1 and a 10K RR!

Normally, the first week of marathon training would be pretty dull and boring and I thought it would be just that, despite having a 10K on July 4th, but between my race and my DW putting crazy thoughts into my head, it turned out to be more exciting than planned.

My plan was to do about 35 miles and the week started out as planned; 7.5 miles Monday evening with my running group and then 5 miles Tuesday evening.

Firecracker Run 10K Race Report

Race day was like any other for me. I arrived earlier than needed because I never like having to rush to the starting line. I did a nice warm up and waited by the starting line. I knew there would be a good number of fast high school kids running the 5K so I let them filter in front of me and before I knew it, we were off.

My plan was to go out at a 6:30/mile pace through 4 miles and then see what I had left. With the adrenaline running and the speedy 5Kers out front, my first mile was a little too fast, 6:21. Through the rolling hills, the next few miles were pretty normal and came in at 6:36, 6:29, 6:36. Because this was my speed work for the week and I had already put some miles in Monday and Tuesday, I knew the possibility of my legs getting tired existed, and I definitely felt fatigue setting in. Mile 5 came in at 6:38. With 1.2 miles to go, I knew I had to block out the fatigue and start moving. I knew there was a guy behind me and a 12 year old about 50 yards ahead and I just started closing the gap. With about ¾ a mile to go, I passed the 12 year old but made sure I let him know he was doing a great job. Mile six was done in 6:19 and as I turned into the stadium, I gave it everything I had left. Normally, that isn’t much, after all, I’m a distance runner and am not known for having much of a finishing kick, but I went after it anyway. It seemed like I was flying around the warning track and as I crossed home plate, my official time was 39:44. The last .2 mile pace was 4:52/mile…I guess I had some finishing kick after all. After crossing the finish line, I had to find the 12 year old and let him know that he ran an incredible race. His time was 39:57; I know he will be kicking my butt in local races within the next year or two. I finished 8th overall and 3rd in my AG!

The post-race spread was incredible... I should have taken pictures, but I went for the important part, free unlimited beer from O’Fallon Brewery (their summer ale). It was delicious!

I took Friday off to recover from the festivities Thursday night but was back at it Saturday morning. I planned to get 14 miles in before 7:30 so that my wife could go to the gym at 8 and then do a photo shoot at 9:30. All went as planned until my DW said I should go to the park with her and I can run in the park with my DS in the stroller. A logical person may have said “I’ve done my 14 miles today, I don’t need to go do more in the park” but I guess I’m not very smart because I thought “I can hit 20 miles today…in week 1 of marathon training. That sounds like a good idea!”

So I went to the park and endured a hard 6 miles. There is a 2 mile road that loops around the back of the park and what I seemed to have forgotten is that it climbs what felt like a small mountain… Pushing a stroller up a small mountain on tired legs is not as fun as I thought it would be when my DW recommended it, but I did that twice, ran the main road out and back and completed another 6 miles. Week 1 of marathon training ended with a 40-mile week (which I contemplated making 50 with a 10 mile run Sunday but chose not to do that)!

"He who is outside his door has the hardest part of his journey behind him." - Dutch Proverb

That is an awesome 10K time! Well under your 6:30 pace goal. Also, incredible time and distance for a 12 year old. I didn't even run when I was 12. 20 miles in one day in your first week of training huh?? Be careful!!

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